Catching up with a few former Cats from NFL training camps

While we anxiously await the start of preseason camp for Kentucky to begin later this week, NFL training camps are in full swing. There are 18 former Wildcats either competing roster spots or starting roles, so when the season kicks off, there should be plenty of guys for UK fans to follow.

Even though the season's first game is still over a month away, some of those former Cats are making headlines. Here are a few stories about them from recent days:

Because with a guy like Trevathan, there is the football part. Trevathan played in the Southeastern Conference, after all -- at Kentucky -- and when the NFL goes shopping, there is no place they love to browse the aisles more than in the SEC.

Players compete against the best athletes in the nation. They play in front of huge crowds and deal with immense, and some would say out-sized, expectations on a week-to-week basis. All in all, those players come into NFL training camps with the ability to compete and adapt quickly.

And while Trevathan may not be the biggest, fastest or strongest linebacker who played in the SEC during his career, few players were more productive. He somehow tackled enough faster, bigger, more-publicized players to lead the conference in tackles in two consecutive seasons.

Cobb, who frequently popped into coaches meetings at Kentucky, believes he can juggle it all.

"I don't know what it is," Cobb said. "My coaches always said I had some kind of 'it' factor back in college and high school. I just pick up stuff. I hold onto it and try to leave it in my memory. Whatever I'm doing, I just remember those things."

In 2011, every Packers receiver played at least 200 more snaps than Cobb, according to Pro Football Focus. To get onto the field more, he needed to sharpen his route-running. It's what fuels Green Bay's offense. Receivers must deceptively sell each route, an acquired skill that separates Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson. Rodgers feasts on confused, cement-footed defensive backs with back-shoulder throws and other route adjustments.

Woodyard and Hall of Famer Floyd Little are the only players in Broncos history to be selected team captains four consecutive seasons. Woodyard has been a special-teams captain in every previous season he's been in Denver, and he's been a team captain under three Denver head coaches -- Mike Shanahan, Josh McDaniels and John Fox.

Overall, Woodyard has played in 58 games, started 16 and been a regular in the Denver defense's nickel (five defensive backs) and dime (six defensive backs) packages.

"He's had a lot of playing time in the past, so experience-wise he's fine," said linebacker Joe Mays. "He's definitely ready. He's ready to go out there and play, start games, play full games, do those type of things. I have no doubt of his ability and what he can do out there on the field."

Looking back, it's hard to imagine the Bills without Johnson. He's their unquestioned No. 1 receiver, the only one in franchise history to post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.

He says the contract won't change him, but his outlook has changed.

"You look around and I guess I'm the veteran now," said the fifth-year pro. "That's what really got me. I like looking over other people and watching out for other people. It's like a natural feeling, being a big brother."